One of the most revealing chapters of the chats between Nicolás Petro and his ex-wife Day Vásquez, and that the president’s son will have to explain, happened following the victory of Gustavo Petro, in the second presidential round, on June 19, 2022.
Nicholas Petro: You want to live well, but you don’t want to invest or that I do lobby.
Day Vasquez: I mean, you’re telling me that I have to be interested.
Nicholas Petro: No, that you don’t want me to do anything to get things.
In Barranquilla, in addition, at the beginning of the year, some images circulated in certain sectors regarding the closeness between Nicolás Petro, the lawyer Miguel Ángel del Río and Rodrigo Ramírez, a member of the board of directors of Monómeros. Ramírez was born in Sincelejo and is a friend of the son of President Petro. He has been a member of the UP and Colombia Humana. Ramírez is the president’s delegate on the Monomeros board of directors.
Likewise, in other images, Ramírez is seen accompanying Aida Victoria Merlano. The image does not allow to specify the date. Although the lawyer Miguel Ángel del Río also appears in this, he denied having any relationship with Monomeros.
These are the tests once morest Nicolás Petro: SEMANA uncovers more than 1,600 pages of chats between the president’s son and his ex-wife Day Vásquez; This is how they moved millions of dollars
Day Vasquez: And for where?
Nicholas Petro: But we have to.
Day Vasquez: Tell German.
Day Vasquez: Or you first.
Nicholas Petro: He has no where.
Nicholas Petro: Put that in the suitcase.
Day Vasquez: put it in
Day Vasquez: I can not.
Nicholas Petro: In a suitcase, and tell your dad to bring the car urgently.
Nicolás’ permanent anxiety regarding lobbying, getting money, investing it in a house and “living well” is very evident. This is how it is recorded in the WhatsApp conversations that Day gave exclusively to SEMANA. There is everything that both talked regarding between January 5, 2021 and January 22, 2023. In total, there are 1,600 pages with surprising revelations.
See the interview of Vicky Dávila, director of SEMANA, with Day Vásquez
Nicholas Petro: No what?
Day Vasquez: They stop that car and trunk of shit.
Before that bell, Nicolás agreed. Without giving further details, he told her: “I already put that in.” Day asked him: “You have to move the account today.”
Listen to María Isabel Rueda talk regarding the Nicolás Petro scandal
Day Vásquez, in an exclusive interview with Vicky Dávila, director of SEMANA, denounced that Nicolás in the 2022 presidential campaign received 600 million pesos from former drug trafficker Santa Lopesierra, known as the Marlboro Man, and another 400 million pesos that, according to her, delivered by the son of the controversial Turco Hilsaca. Although she said that the money was directed to Petro’s presidential campaign, the woman assured that her then-husband kept everything to buy a luxurious house in Villa Campestre, in Barranquilla.
Day Vasquez: And when I came back, the bag was closed.
Day Vasquez: And I lacked money.
Day Vasquez: I always know what I have.
Day Vasquez: And we haven’t spent anything here these days.
Day Vasquez: He had 4,800.
Day Vasquez: And there are 3,300.
Nicholas Petro: That is serious.
Day Vasquez: That’s why I want to put the cameras and not tell him.
Nicholas Petro: And I have always told you.
Nicholas Petro: You are very trusting.
Nicolás expressed fear for the bulk of the money that was to be guarded and spoke with his wife regarding a suitcase where the bills were. She told him that, for security reasons, part of the money was hidden “elsewhere”. Nicolás, that same February 9, insisted once more on buying the house “to get out of that”, in reference to the money in cash. Doubts grew following Day reported that the money was in a safe, but it was damaged. They were both afraid of being robbed or losing their money.
Day Vasquez: It’s just that I can’t walk with things on me all the time.
Nicholas Petro: No, it’s that you don’t carry all that money on you.
Nicholas Petro: hide her
Nicholas Petro: And who knows if they have taken us out of the suitcase.
Day Vasquez: How are they going to get out if the safe is there.
Day Vasquez: What I am thinking is that the previous safe was damaged at any moment.
Nicholas Petro: Remember what’s full outside.
Day Vasquez: I don’t have that in my suitcase.
Nicholas Petro: And then where do you have it?
Day Vasquez: Hidden elsewhere.
Day Vasquez: I mightn’t put everything in one place.
Day Vasquez: Because it’s worse.
Day Vasquez: He was just going to open the suitcase.
Day Vasquez: My dad already bought the other safe.
Day Vasquez: Which is more secure.
Day Vasquez: And that cannot be opened or moved just like that.
Day Vasquez: It weighs a lot.
Nicholas Petro: Mmmm good.
Nicholas Petro: It’s good that they accept the house to get out of it.
However, despite the measures they adopted, there was money that was lost. On July 8 of last year, less than a month following the inauguration of President Gustavo Petro, Day busily searched for Nicolás, at 9:51 a.m.
Day Vasquez: Missing 150 in each wad.
Nicholas Petro: In which?
Day Vasquez: In which they delivered yesterday.
Every week the prevention was greater. At one point, the two argued because Nicolás asked Day to take on the role of watching over everything. On July 15, at 7:33 am, Nicolás assured that the money they had was “enough” and that Day’s role was to take care of her.
Day Vasquez: No wonder you told me to keep taking care of the money.
Nicholas Petro: What are you taking regarding?
Nicholas Petro: If I told you now to come with me.
Nicholas Petro: Aha, love.
Nicholas Petro: But what you want is to sleep.
Nicholas Petro: See you later.
Day Vasquez: You told me clearly that you mightn’t leave that here.
Day Vasquez: And I’m not sleeping.
Nicholas Petro: Aha, but it’s enough.
Day Vasquez: What are we going to do with the $.
Nicholas Petro: I do not know, love.
Nicholas Petro: What do we do?
Nicholas Petro: Will Melissa be able to carry a part?
Day Vasquez: Me da vaina.
Day Vasquez: Because he is going home by taxi.
Day Vasquez: And how much might it take?
Day Vasquez: Tell your cousin to find out.
Nicholas Petro: 30 max, but might take 50.
Day Vasquez: Do I give it to you?
Nicholas Petro: Talk to her first.
Day Vasquez: I told.
Day Vasquez: He tells me yes.
At that time, Day proposed that another 50 million pesos more be delivered to a cousin of hers, named Julio César, who is a singer and would have been at a birthday of President Petro’s son.
Day Vasquez: A cousin is going to Barranquilla tomorrow.
Day Vasquez: I might tell him to bring 50 more.
Nicholas Petro: And is it trustworthy?
Day Vasquez: Julius Caesar.
Day Vasquez: The singer.
Day Vasquez: The one on your birthday.
Nicholas Petro: 50 Camilo, 50 Raisa, 50 Germán, 50 Melissa.
Day Vasquez: When do they travel?
Day Vasquez: My cousin tells me that he has passed up to 100.
Nicholas Petro: I don’t know, I already asked Camilo.
Nicholas Petro: He told me tomorrow.
The transfer of the money, indeed, was done on July 15. At 5:27 pm, this conversation between the two takes place.
Nicholas Petro: Did Melissa leave?
Day Vasquez: Yes, it just left.
Nicholas Petro: hahaha, she’s crazy.
Nicholas Petro: He took the 50.
Day Vasquez: He took them.
Day Vasquez: My first 100.
Day Vasquez: But he has them there in cash.
Nicholas Petro: In that way?
Day Vasquez: In other words, this leaves them here and gives me the 100 there.
Nicholas Petro: Aha, and those here?
Day Vasquez: Leave them here.
It refers to the fact that he withdrew 10 million pesos. Nicolás just nodded: “Okay.” The unstoppable daily flow of money is not compatible with the income of the representative of the Atlantic, whose monthly allowance is regarding 17 million pesos.
“How much did they deliver?” Day asks him one day, without further information. To which he replied: “30, plus 20 from yesterday, plus 20 that we had saved.” In February of last year, around 11:52 am, there was talk of even higher numbers.
Nicholas Petro: What do we do with what we have there?
Day Vasquez: How much is it?
Throughout the dialogues, it is revealed how Nicolás Petro always wanted to keep all the money he moved as a secret. He was afraid of raising the slightest suspicion. So on July 24, at 9:52 a.m., he asked Day to be prudent in front of his mom and gave him a reason.
Nicholas Petro: Love, don’t talk regarding money in front of my mom.
Nicholas Petro: Aha, the less people know the better.
In any case, the anguish is so great with the money they had in hand that five days earlier, on July 19, at 10:28 am, Day said he decided to find out regarding a camera to monitor the money.
Day Vasquez: I’m going to find out the camera.
Day Vasquez: And put one in the closet.
Day Vasquez: Where will the money be?
Day Vasquez: I changed the battery and the car does not start and it seems strange to me.
Nicholas Petro: Mmmmmmmm.
Nicholas Petro: Oh, God.
Day Vasquez: I’m already solving.
Day Vasquez: It’s not my fault.
Nicholas Petro: Wherever the engine that’s screwed.
Day Vasquez: It’s not engine.
Day Vasquez: Because everything works.
Nicholas Petro: And from now on I’m telling you, I’m not going to take money from that money to buy another house.
Day Vasquez: You don’t solve.
Day Vasquez: And you’re talking regarding money.
The luxurious house regarding which they insistently talked was worth 1,600 million pesos at that time. In the real estate market, its “innovative German architecture with low energy consumption” and its “luxury finishes” stand out. It has 436 square meters, a private pool, terrace, gazebo, four bedrooms, three parking spaces, and is located in Puerto Colombia, 13 kilometers from Barranquilla. On May 9 of last year, at 12:02 noon, Day told Nicolás what the business would be like.
Day Vasquez: It would look like this: 1,600 million. 50% for the signing of the promise and 50% at the time of writing, which would be at the time of finalizing the lease or before by mutual agreement.
Nicholas Petro: It’s time to get 800.
Day Vasquez: To deliver them tomorrow.
To avoid leaving a trace and not arouse suspicion, Day and Nicolás talk regarding the need for the house to appear registered in the name of a third party. Nicolás is anxious that this third party can “demonstrate” financial strength in the face of an investment of 1,600 million pesos. Nicolás’s concern that his mother would not find out regarding the money he stored was not a coincidence.
Nicholas Petro: My mom has arrived.
Day Vasquez: What did he say?
Nicholas Petro: That this looks like a mansion.
Nicholas Petro: What if how much do we pay?
Nicholas Petro: I told him it was from a friend.
Nicholas Petro: And he asked if it was tracheo.
Day Vasquez: I knew it!!
In the conversations between August and December 2022, with Petro already in the presidency, Day warned Nicolás of the risks he was running lobbying to get money. “Look I’m telling you today. Then don’t say I didn’t warn you. I comply with telling you, I won’t say anything else, ”she told him.
The president’s son’s response was: “I don’t understand then what you want me to do. How do you think we are going to pay for this house, tell me”.
Nicholas Petro: You want to live well, but you don’t want to invest or for me to lobby.
Day Vasquez: I mean, you’re telling me that I have to be interested.
Nicholas Petro: No, that you don’t want me to do anything to get things.
In December, when the couple was already divorced, Nicolás began to fear that Day might denounce him and contact a journalist. “Enemies already have that information, you delivered my head on a silver platter,” he told her. In fact, he suggested: “How easy it is to delete conversations, or have another account on Telegram.” “With the simple fact of leaking information you sunk me,” she told him.